Brits leading the way in internet usage

A recent report from Ofcom has shown that internet users in the UK spend more time online than any other country in Europe –racking up an average of 14 hours a week.

Ofcom’s International Communications Market Report showed that internet use per user has risen the fastest in the UK over the last four years, with an average increase of 30 per cent each year.

With an average of 26, the UK came third for the number of broadband connections per 100 people. The Netherlands took the lead with 35 per cent, and Sweden followed with 31 per cent.

British consumers were found to stream TV content from the internet more than any other country in Europe, and were the biggest users of social networking sites.

Across all the countries surveyed, more women than men were using the internet.

Over all residential and small and medium business broadband connections, UK broadband take-up totalled 60 per cent in 2007 – 10 per cent more than the previous year.

However, Ofcom noted that the UK broadband market was slowing, with growth in take-up falling from 31 per cent in 2006 to 20 per cent in 2007.

On the contrary, mobile broadband has seen a huge increase in use, with the UK currently holding the highest HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) at 87 per cent, compared to around 70 per cent in most European countries.

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